Basketball Recruiting - Commits
2010 Commits
T. J. Taylor, SG, 6’3, Denison, TX
Cameron Clark, F, 6’7, Sherman, TX
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2009 Commits
Orlando Allen -- 6-10, 280, Center -- Paris Junior College
Bio: Originally from Cincinnatti, Ohio. Did not play his sophomore season at Paris J.C. so he will be classified as a sophomore next season. Ranked the 58th-best Junior College prospect in the nation by Hoopmasters.com. Committed to Seton Hall as a high school senior. Averaged just 1.8 points and 2.6 rebounds as a freshman at Paris JC. Chose OU over Minnesota. Also offered by Nebraska, Baylor, Maryland and Oklahoma State.
Capel on Allen: "Orlando's a huge kid. He's 6-11 and 270 pounds. We think his best basketball is ahead of him. We saw him when he first got to Paris Junior College and we've followed him since. It was amazing to see how much better he got and how hard he worked to get himself into better shape and to become a high-level player. We think his future is really bright. He's already ready to defend at this level because of how big and long he is. He didn't start playing until ninth grade, so he's not as far along offensively as he will be. But he's really skilled and we think he'll be able to make a quick jump to becoming effective on that end of the court."
Allen on his game: “I will just say that I am a five man and I play center. I play inside, but I do step out a little. I have been trying to improve that part of my game, but my strength is scoring on the block with my back to the basket. I got a nice little touch around the basket and I can shoot the 15-footer when I step out. I am improving on everything, and I am a good free throw shooter. I went from making 50 percent of three throws until now when I make over 80 percent.”
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Kyle Cannon -- 6-8, 230, Forward -- San Jacinto C.C.
Bio: Like Allen, Cannon redshirted last season due to injury and will be a sophomore next season at Oklahoma. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland. Averaged 16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds in an injury-laden season freshman season at San Jacinto. Ranked the 22nd-best Junior College prospect in the nation by Hoopmasters.com. Chose Oklahoma over Nebraska, South Florida, Baylor and Arizona State.
Capel on Cannon: "We noticed Kyle this summer and started recruiting him then. He's 6-8 1/2, about 230 pounds and strong. He's a really skilled 4 man. He shoots it, he handles it, he's a good passer. We think he'll be a very good complement to the post players we'll have returning next year. He'll be a guy who can come in and impact our program immediately."
Cannon on his game: “I am an inside-out guy. A lot of times, I like to start inside and then move outside. I cause match-up problems for a lot of teams because I can step outside and shoot the three. I can do a lot for my team. I can go inside and be physical, tough and get rebounds and stuff like that, but then go outside and take you off the dribble and shoot the three, which I do pretty good as well. That is something that I plan on doing very well for the Sooners. I take a lot of mid-range jumpers, but I take a lot of three's too. When you play the four-position, a lot of times guys kind of back off you and you have a bigger guy on you that I can use my quickness against. I have range from the NBA 3-point line as well.”
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Juan Pattillo -- 6-7, 205, Forward -- College of Southern Idaho
Bio: Averaged 17.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for a College of Southern Idaho team that spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Rated the 3rd-best Junior College player in the nation by Hoopmasters.com. Orginally from Las Vegas, Nev. Chose Oklahoma over Kentucky and Oklahoma State.
Capel on Pattillo:"The word that comes to mind when I think about Juan is 'explosive. He is very athletic and can play multiple positions. At 6-7 and about 218 pounds, he's going to come here with great size already. We anticipate him being a wing player for us. He plays really hard, he can shoot it out to about 18 or 19 feet, he can put it on the floor. He can defend multiple positions and is a high-energy guy. The thing that probably stood out the most about his visit last weekend was how he connected and fit in with our returning players. We're very, very excited about Juan."
Pattillo on his game: "I think I can score from just about everywhere on the floor," Pattillo told OUInsider.com in an interview last month. "I think I am a little flashy. My game is above the rim. I can defend whoever at the 1, 2, 3 or 4. I can shoot the jumpshot and shoot the 3. I can shoot the ball really well. I consider myself a good scorer and a good shooter.”
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Willie Warren -- 6-3, 195, Guard -- Ft. Worth, Texas (North Crowley HS)
Bio: Earned an invite to the prestigous McDonald's All-American game, where he scored a team-high 23 points. Also led his high school team to its first-ever state title scoring 27 points (15 in the fourth quarter) in the Texas Class 5A championship game. Averaged 24.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 steals as a senior. Rated as the 23rd-best player in the nation by ESPN. Chose Oklahoma over Kansas, UConn and Baylor.
Capel on Warren: "Willie's a special player. He's one of the best guards in the country. I think he's the best, especially from seeing him this summer and how he scored the ball. He's a big, big-time playmaker. I consider him a lead guard and he can do so much. He can score with the best of them, he's already got a college-ready body and he loves to compete. He has the potential to be a lockdown defender, he can shoot it with range and he's as explosive a guard as there is in this class. We're really excited, really thrilled to have him join the Sooner family and we think he has the chance to come in and make a big-time contribution."
Warren on his game: "I am the type player that I don’t think you can label me in one position. I am a combo-guard and wherever Coach Capel puts me I am going to do whatever it takes to impact my position. A lot of college coaches have compared my game to Baron Davis, Chauncey Billups and recently other coaches compared me to Ben Gordon. Those are three real good guards that I wouldn’t mind getting compared to. They are making money doing what they love to do, and I would love somebody to make money playing basketball. I think the strength of my game is being able to shoot the 3 as well as penetrate. In every game, I like to start out passing the ball and getting my teammates involved so that they can get the feel for the game and get hot. Then, when it is time for me to take over and I am drawing double and triple teams, I can hit the open man."
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Ray Willis -- 6-5, 170, Guard -- Atlanta, Ga. (Westlake HS)
Bio: Born in Tulsa, Willis transferred to Westlake High School in Atlanta before his senior season from Orlando, Fla. Averaged 27 points, five rebounds and four assists while leading Westlake to the Atlanta Class 4A semifinals. Ranked as the 36th-best shooting guard in the nation by ESPN. Chose Oklahoma over Oregon, Penn State, Temple and UTEP.
Capel on Willis: "Ray is a talented young man, a guy who kind of flew under the radar for the longest time but really started to make a name for himself in the spring and summer. We were very fortunate in that we had already been recruiting him for a little bit. Ray also has Oklahoma roots. He and some of his family lived in Tulsa for a while. He's a 6-6 wing guy who is really skilled in terms of handling and shooting the basketball. I think he has a good feel and he loves to compete. He really, really loves to compete and play, which is something I love about him. He'll bring versatility to our backcourt. He's long and athletic and has the chance to be a very good basketball player."
Willis on his game: “I can shoot the basketball. That is definitely the strength of my game. I am versatile and I am not a one-dimensional player. I can pretty much do a little bit of everything. I am at my best when I am shooting off the catch, but I can shoot off bounce easily. I also read screens well and I have a good understanding of the game. I know what to do in every situation. I am at my best when I can take one or two dribbles going both left and right.”
